Central elite tell Uhuru to back Mudavadi

  SHARE BOOKMARKPRINTEMAILRATING

By EMEKA-MAYAKA GEKARA gmayaka@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, September 1  2012 at  21:06

IN SUMMARY

• They argue that if elected, Mr Kenyatta’s presidency is unlikely to reconcile all Kenyans and promote stability.
• The group, led by university lecturer Gituku Ng’ang’a, described the Kenyatta presidential bid as “ill-timed”.
• They further argue that the move would defuse tension and give people an opportunity to debunk the myth that Kikuyus cannot vote for a member of another community.

A group of professionals from central Kenya has asked Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta to step down from the presidential race and instead throw his weight behind his counterpart Musalia Mudavadi.

They argue that if elected, Mr Kenyatta’s presidency is unlikely to reconcile all Kenyans and promote stability.

The group, led by university lecturer Gituku Ng’ang’a, described the Kenyatta presidential bid as “ill-timed”. (READ: Uhuru bid for State House rattled)

“We are not ready to vote for one of our own. Mr Kenyatta should consolidate the Kikuyu vote, which he commands, and hand it over to Mudavadi,” he said.

“Because of the perception in Kenya that the seat comes with advantages, it should be allowed to circulate. Kikuyus and Kalenjins have had it. Let it go elsewhere.”

He added that much as the Luo have not produced a president, Mr Raila Odinga’s premiership had given him executive authority.

“The rest of the country is fatigued by Kikuyus, Kalenjins and Luos,” said Mr Gituku.

Other members of the professional caucus include French language lecturer Weru Macharia, and researchers Ndung’u Wambugu, Michael Kinuthia and Harrison Kago.

They further argue that the move would defuse tension and give people an opportunity to debunk the myth that Kikuyus cannot vote for a member of another community.

Share This Story

  

Mr Kenyatta intends to run for the presidency on The National Alliance ticket. His campaign has been particularly hostile to the suggestion that he backs Mr Mudavadi.

Those said to be supportive of Mr Mudavadi include President Kibaki’s secretary Nick Wanjohi, one of the forces behind UDF, an influential businesswoman from Nyeri with the President’s ear, and assistant minister Ndiritu Muriithi, who is also a member of the First Family.

Accept defeat

The professionals who spoke to the Sunday Nation indicated that central Kenya voters remain uncomfortable with Mr Odinga’s decision not to accept defeat in the last election when he ran against President Kibaki.

But their major concern, they say, is what would happen if Mr Kenyatta were to face off with Mr Odinga.

“A possible run-off poll between Mr Odinga and Mr Kenyatta will turn into a 41-against-one contest, and its result is not rocket science,” said Mr Gituku. He added that the group believes an Odinga presidency would not lead to stability.

They also said that an endorsement of Eldoret North MP William Ruto would lead to outcry and voter apathy. They said that the suspicion between the Kalenjins and Kikuyus arising from the post-election violence had not dissipated to a level of mutual trust.

“Residents of central Kenya can only vote for Mr Ruto if he is pitted against Mr Odinga in the run-off. But even then, older voters are unlikely to vote for him.”

Though the professionals did not mention possible support for Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s presidential bid, his supporters have consistently made the case that central Kenya owes the VP as he came to President Kibaki’s aid after the 2007 election.

The group was responding to a Sunday Nation story last week that highlighted President Kibaki’s dilemma over the Kenyatta presidential campaign. Mr Macharia said that there was a strong sentiment against efforts to have Mr Kenyatta succeed President Kibaki.

The group says the Mudavadi idea is gaining “strong currency”, but few leaders had the courage to ask Mr Kenyatta to step down.

However, the TNA secretary-general, Mr Onyango Oloo, dismissed the call for Mr Kenyatta to quit the presidential race in favour of Mr Mudavadi.

“Unless Kenyans change the Constitution, we will present Mr Kenyatta to Kenyans during the election and they will decide,” he said.

“Those saying others should not run are dragging us to the rhetoric that shaped the highly polarised 2007 elections,” he said.

But the professionals said Mr Kenyatta’s candidature was not only untenable but he was also “yet to demonstrate what he was able to do if given the top seat”.

They said Mr Mudavadi was in a position to maintain stability and improve on President Kibaki’s record. They also accused some politicians of pushing Mr Kenyatta to run and hanging on his coat tails for personal gain.

Their views mirror sentiments by former American ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger. In a 2009 cable to Washington, the diplomat raised concerns over the possibility of another Kikuyu president.

“While conventional wisdom says that another person from the Kikuyu ethnic group cannot succeed President Kibaki due to anti-Kikuyu sentiment prevalent across much of Kenyan society, political dynamics that make potential challengers seem weak may be encouraging Uhuru and his potential supporters to rethink this,” he wrote.

Share This Story

  

He spoke of an “emerging realisation” among Kikuyu professionals and progressive politicians that it “would not be healthy for the nation or wise politically to seek to have another Kikuyu replace Kibaki”.